Portrayal of Teenage Girls in the Media

In the United States of America, citizens possess the privilege to know the freedom of words and the freedom to express their views and feelings under the protection of the U. S. Constitution. However, in that respect whitethorn be a point at which freedom of speech is abused or escalated to an unethical level that may be pestilential to the well- beingness of society, particularly the youth of today and the future leaders of our world. wholly over the years, the question should pargonnts be concerned approximately the portrayal of puerile girls in the media? has become a signifi adviset controversial virtuous sequel in society.The portrayal of adolescent girls in the media is a controversial moral issue because of the cultural sensitivity and the perceived intrusiveness of the subject. This issue primarily concerns the nimiety of sexual content and unbecoming images of juvenile women exposed done the media. costless to say, this question leaves many a nonher(prenom inal) p atomic number 18nts ill at ease. Images, perceived norms and new trends are consistently being set for how young girls and women must look, act, think, and feel in order to be successful and accepted in todays society.There has been an ongoing debate concerning moral actions that need to be taken to order the appropriateness of age sensitive material being permeated throughout the media. Media is everyplace it is in classrooms, advertisements, movies, televisions, magazines, newspapers, the internet, the workplace, and in homes all over the country, and it continues to infuse the world and our lives. Media does non only sell tangible products, but too morals, values, concepts of life, and success, and to some point normalcy (Killing Us softly 3).Whether positive or negative, consciously or unconsciously, media affects each and every one of us every day. Young girls are being exposed to a supposed themel image of effeminate beauty through the years of media photo. For example, the notion that the most important issue to a young woman should be her somatic appearance is an appraisal that is acquired at a very young age. Even before a girl reaches puberty, she is already aware of her physical appearance and the effect it has on her stand in society. Extreme and pro-inflammatory amounts of guilt and shame can follow if the young woman does not achieve that perception (Killing Us Softly 3).Many people in Americas society imagine that the medias unethical way is to blame for influencing and even producing some of the earths growing problems among teens, such as eating disorders, increased alliance in sexual activity, pregnancy rates, rape, increased alcohol consumption and drug use. Others, however, feel that society should not blame the media for the inappropriate behavior and that privation of even out and morals among teens in todays society, but quite blame the parents and educators who ferment and guide those teens.The majority of p arents hold the media responsible for(p) for the subversive activity of the morals of teenage girls. They debate that the medias widely un pictorial and un sanguine depiction of young women and what they are supposed to look and behave give care in order to be socially accepted and respected has allowed and advance teenage girls to become overly consumed in achieving this supposed ideal. Sadly, it has left many girls confused, in danger, or even dead.Supporters of this position argue that the mainstream corporate media excogitation sex and sexuality in ways that limit and hamper girls fit sexual development (Durham 12). They trust that there is more evidence that the messages teenage girls are getting about sex from media are harmful quite a than helpful (12). Intervention began to be a growing demand from the prevalent audience. One potential re stem to this moral issue is to continue rewriting and producing television and movie ratings that are current, relevant, and co nstructive to the current images spread through the media.For example, a ban on commercials and advertisements that objectify women and promote sexual behavior would be effective to alleviate these unethical teen images. The Motion picture Association of America (MPAA) ratings and the TV Parental Guidelines (a TV ratings system designed to give parents more specifyation about the content and age-appropriateness of TV programs) (TV) can be used to allow parents to block out programs they do not want their children to see, based on the ratings (TV) and other in the flesh(predicate) preferences.These types of sources support and encourage media restrictions and the facilitation of providing cleaner and more appropriate television for children. Promoting a more realistic and healthy body image, lifestyle, and attitude for todays young women through public service announcements is another form of media that advocates healthy teen behavior. According to supporters of such sources, cons umer advocacy and action is a top dog task in resolving this problem.People have the power to critique, analyze, challenge, and affirm media messages, and also have the option of flexureing off, boycotting, and disengaging from media that denigrate or insult girls (Durham 227). on the dot as producers have the right to produce and distribute these messages, the public audience has the right to question and challenge them. It is both the responsibility and obligation of the American society and the establishment to ensure a safer, healthier, more promising community for girls to develop and grow without negative imagery, or false and fabricated ideals being fed to them through media.Nonetheless, these potential resolutions to limiting the indecent exposure of teenage girls in the media predictably stir up opposition. Some people believe that society should not blame the media for the inappropriate behavior and lack of discipline and morals among teens in todays society, but kin da the parents and educators who run and guide those teens. Also, they argue that not all media is bad media, and consider the idea that adults are biased against teens.They believe that those who oppose their belief have over exaggerated the medias impact on todays youth, claiming that visual perception attractive models has become such a familiar experience that exposure no longer produces a reaction strong enough to influence self-perception or ones general sense of hope (Wagner 120). Meaning, that girls have become desensitized to this variant of imagery that does not psychology affect them as much as some would like to believe.After analyzing and being influenced by both sides of the argument, the leading proposed solution to me would be to alter the ideal image of female beauty and challenge disseminated by the media, then to extensively promote and advertise an improved, healthier, beautiful, and more realistic idea of female beauty. The medias negative imagery has had an impact on the majority of todays youth and is noticeably a full problem. This impact has infected the minds of young growing girls with unrealistic and stern notions of matinee idol and lifestyle, clearly leaving parents concerned.Americas teenage generation is disregarding moral values and the practice of self-respect, faith, self awareness and the embracing of childhood experiences, and rather engaging in activities involving immoral behavior which are scarcely not age-appropriate. Although who can blame them, since this type of behavior has become socially grateful due to the medias infiltration into Americas homes and spread of images and ideals concentrate rebellious behavior, sexual active, parental defiance, and distorted imagery of beauty and health.The American society should take action as concerned citizens by voice their opinions to society and demanding a decrease of the objectification and sexualization of females in the media. Additionally, since advertising ag encies are not going to immediately rid themselves of the negative unethical habits with regard to female imagery in the media, continuing to produce and broadcast understandable and immaculate ratings on all television programs, movies and even advertisements is an effective way to inform parents about what their children are watching and being influenced by.Many young girls worry about the contours of their bodies, especially shape, size, and even muscle tone, because of the belief that the body is the last-ditch preparation of the self and beauty (Durham 128). This kind of mentality can cause long physical and mental damage and can push young girls to dangerous limits. Communities should promote extracurricular programs that help young people develop egoism based on traits such as ability, talents, character, and academics, rather than simply physical appearance.The need to replace sexualized images with positive images of females endorsing notions other than physical beauty is vital. The close should be to deliver messages to all adolescents, boys and girls, which lead to healthy, safe and realistic development. Our governance has an obligation to protect its citizens from harmful and dangerous things ultimately, these things are under the governments control. The negative influences generated by media on young girls should be taken into consideration and should be diminished, even if that means comprising the few positives.This lasting brawl is clearly a conflict between the values of health, safety, self-esteem, and ethical choices of teenage girls on one side, and the support of logical evidence and standpoints and the parental charge aspect on the other. While promoting positive messages to youth through the media is the ultimate plan and goal for supporting the change in images presented by the young girls about young girls, every solution can back fire.Some may believe that attempting to transform the media is a waste of time because these c orporations behind it all will not bend easily since the obvious result and source for a lack of good conscience is qualifying of profits and loss of the number one selling point, sex. However, if enough people take a stand and stop buying products with discriminating and insulting ad campaigns, turn off the television shows displaying high school students having sex and doing drugs, stop allowing their children to go see the movies that encourage and reward unequal behavior among teens, then a demand will not go nnoticed. This may force those corporations responsible for the media to change this rising controversial moral problem and take us one step closer to having healthier, happier, growing young girls, rather than confused, pressured, unsatisfied, and undefended young teenage girls living everyday of their lives engulfed by an array of poor images and trying to live up to a image that is unhealthy, unsafe, unethical, or simply just doesnt exist.Works Cited Durham, Gigi. Th e Lolita Effect. New York Overlook P, The, 2008. Killing Us Softly 3 Advertisings Image of Women. Dir. Sut Jhally. Perf. Jean Kilbourne. 2001. TV Ratings. The TV Parental Guidelines. 2008. 1 Nov. 2008 . Wagner, Viqi. Eating Disorders. New York Greenhaven P, Incorporated, 2007.